A Texan conservative Anglican -- yes, a square peg -- ponders both churchly and worldly things and enjoys his new church.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

An Obama Chaplain A Fervent Evangelical

This is interesting. A favorite chaplain of Obama, the one he most hears while at Camp David, is a fervent evangelical. So fervent that he’s become controversial, particularly after a Washington Post article. He’s even gotten attention across the pond.

Carey Cash, great-nephew of the late Johnny Cash, is involved in Campus Crusade for Christ, sees Islam as a violent religion, and has baptized more than 50 servicemen, often with water from a canteen.

Sounds like good guy.

And I am glad to read that President Obama likes to hear him preach. (Yes, I would rejoice in the salvation of Obama.) The president has been quoted as saying Cash “delivers as powerful a sermon as I've heard in a while. I really think he's excellent."

The two coming together may be providential. Cash was assigned by the Navy to preside over the small and very private Evergreen Chapel at Camp David. The main purpose of the chapel is to accommodate the military families stationed at the presidential retreat. But the Obama family has been attending as well.

However, it will be interesting to see if Obama distances himself from Cash now that there is a little controversy. The White House has already taken pains to say that Cash is not Obama’s pastor. (Hence, the Times’ headline stating he is “President Obama’s new pastor” is inaccurate.)

Obama has already been burned by his association with his past pastor, Jeremiah Wright. He does not want to be burned again.